The Atari 5200 was, in essence, an Atari 400 computer without a keyboard. This made for a powerful, proven design which Atari could quickly bring to market. The system featured a revolutionary new controller with an analog joystick and system function keys (start, pause, reset). (Other innovations for the 5200 included an automatic switchbox and 4 controller ports.) Unfortunately, the non-centering joystick design proved to be ungainly and unreliable, alienating many consumers. While the 5200 did garner a strong cult following with its library of high quality games, it faced an uphill battle competing with the ColecoVision's head start and a stuttering economy. But the question of which system was superior became moot when the game market crashed in 1983-84, killing off both systems in their prime.
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